Crestline Les Paul Copy

Year unknown. Made in Japan, I believe. Typical Les Paul control layout. Two humbuckings. Bolt-on neck. Neck width medium, a bit on the flat side. Rosewood fretboard with LP style markers. Medium frets. Body is black finish (boring) with off-white binding all around body, neck and headstock. Tune-o-matic bridge. Stop tailpiece. No-name chrome finish tuners. This is a lefty model. I play strung righty so had a bone righty nut installed. Came without pickguard or case.

I plug it into a Line6 POD which goes into a Peavy Classic 30. For ultra-small clubs I just use the POD into the PA system. I use the POD mostly for the tuner and delay, and also for the various amp models, though I mostly use the Brit Classic model 'cause it sounds the fullest. Sounds from fine at all 3 selector positions, tho' "sound" is a question of taste. I've never owned a Gibson Les Paul and I don't think there'd be any comparison. And even here, I've heard there's quite a difference in sound from Les Paul to Les Paul. I play late 50s to early 60s music (Merseybeat) so, as far as sound is concerned, "anything goes". One thing can be said: it's louder than any other guitar I own (Strat, Tele with JB Juniors, Samick hollowbody with Gibson P90s). After gigging it once I can say I'm satisfied with the sounds. I thought about putting GFS Retrotron Liverpool pickups on it in effort to get a Gretsch-like sound, but I'm still undecided.

Action was real low when I bought it. No frets buzzing but it had to be strummed and picked lightly to avoid "string slap" against the fretboard. Had the righty bone nut installed and raised the action just a bit and now it's to my liking. I think I put 009s on it, or at most 010s, which is lighter than my usual 011s. The result is that it's real easy to play. There is definitely some noise in the pots. Have to have that checked out. Finish, as I said, is boring black. I'm thinking of making my own pickguard to put on it, something totally unlike the traditional Les Paul pickguard, something to make it stand out.

Don't see why this guitar shouldn't hold up to gigging, once the electronics are checked out. I usually gig with a backup but just in case of string breaks.

Not applicable. Any work to be done will be done by my local tech.

I've been playing for 40 years, gigging for 35. Many years ago, before "tone" was a thing you actually searched for and "vintage" was just old guitars, I had Strats, Teles, SGs, a 335, a Dan Armstrong. At present I own a MIJ 60s Strat, MIJ Tele Custom with JB Junior p'ups, Samick ES-5 copy with Gibson P90 p'ups and Bigsby. After being a Strat man for over 20 years, I'm now bored with the Strat sound and usually reach for one of my other guitars lately. I like the sounds of the Crestline because they're quite different from my other guitars. I bought this guitar primarily 'cause it's lefty, and us lefties (the poorer ones) can't be choosers. Also the price was right. I would not be heart-broken if the guitar got lost or stolen 'cause it's just a cheap, unattractive thing. I think I'd treasure it more if it had a sunburst finish. These days, I firmly believe that inexpensive does not necessarily mean cheap.

I'm actually trying to hunt one down. It was my 1st electric. Im looking for a wood grain with white binding and dark block inlays. 2 pickups . Excellent

Sounded great. If anyone here would like to sell theirs please email me at timbradach@aol.com. Thanks

Great action and had a finished fret board with dark block inlays. I had a wood grain, my buddies had black

Neve a problem

They were imported to Grossman Music in Cleveland. I traded mine in at the Music Emporium in Cleveland Ohio in the early 80's. Can't find them.

I loved it. Trying to get it back. Any info on picking one up would be great. email to timbradach@aol.com

22 fret, nice block inlays (pearl of fake pearl, who cares). Binding on both sides of body, and on neck are aesthetically pleasing. It has dual humbuckers which I replaced with pickups off of a PRS Tremonti, I may switch back though just to compare.

When I bought the guitar I played mostly heavy stuff, it sounds good but a little weak for that style, but I was used to my Ibanez with EMG-81 active pickups which are very high output. But now I go for different sound and I like it a lot more now, I'm in a band now that requires a nice strat style clean tone, and this guitar obviosly does not have that much tonal range, unless you coil tap it with some nice new pickups which I might do.

I bought this guitar very used, and the action was still awesome. the frets were also good. My only complaint is that you can see a slight gap where it was glued together. The guitar is somewhat beat-up looking, but I accually like it that way. Also cheap gold hardware finish is oxidized. I love the feel of this guitarm that's why I bought it.

I've never had any problems with it, and have used it for gigs and will use it again, just not with the band I'm in now,

I spent 3 hours on the internet trying to find something, anything about this company and all I found is this page, so if anyone can direct me to some info contact me at myspace.com/mikereto. nobody has heard of it except one guy who told me that it's a branch of Ibanez.

I've owned decient equiptment over the years ant bottom line is, I don't prejudge japanese guitars anymore, if it has the look and feel I like it's a good guitar. Although that doesn't mean I never going to own a real les paul.

Yes that's 5 us dollars. 70's or early 80's?. Made in Japan.
I bought this at yard sale. It is a standard sunburst with a bolt on slim neck with a curved fretboard radius like some Rickenbackers. The guitar was missing a pickup, a tone pot, a tailpiece, and the wiring was no good as well as the remaining pickup. I had the whole thing rewired and I threw in some old L6S pickups that I had removed from an old L6, a few months before a fool stole the L6 from me. This cost me $150. I don't know what the machines are but they look and work fine.

With the L6 pickups (not Bill Lawrence btw)this thing sounds great as confirmed by the band I play in. The bridge is bright but full and this allows me to vary the tone knob. The neck is a little dark but still very usable. There is no honk like that found in a weight reliefed Les Paul Elegant. The middle position is a perfect balance.
I feel like I'm playing a good vintage Les Paul. The pickups actually squealed once while running several gain stages but that is expected in 30 year old pickups. No hum though.

The guitar came with 2 strings tied to the saddle which the guitar tech had to take a photo of before he fixed it! But with just that, I could tell the neck at least sounded the notes on all the frets under those 2 strings. The action is great now except that the first string is set rather low due to the radius in the neck. The finish smelled of a moldy cellar and had a very dull finish but a little cleansing revealed a beautiful yellow to red sunburst. The back is sunburst also but well worn. I may put in a Graphtech nut as most Gibson 3x3 are hard to keep in tune because of the G string hanging up in the plastic nut. This was also true of the $3500 Elegant. I used to have to lubricate the nut on my L6.
Overall, this guitar was certainly abused and left for dead but I thought it survived rather well.

I have a us strat deluxe plus with Joe Barden pickups but this guitar was going fine so I played it for 2 long sets with no problems. Oh yeah, the strap buttons were ripped out so I installed new ones myself.

they are going or at least there is no web presence.

I've played for 35 years and I own a strat, PRS, Tele, Reverend, Switch roland ready and now the Crestline. If it were lost, I would be at a loss because I probably won't run into another one of these. I like the way it plays and it has that real solid feel like a Les Paul does except the neck is a little slimmer so it seems a little faster. It satisfies my craving for a Les Paul.

Mine was made in Japan and i liked it at first because it was like one of my first guitars the pickups sound really good but for some reason there sound wears away i first heard about this guitar from my friend Jesse and he said it was a really good guitar well it's not.

It sounds good for more country and jazz.

Over everything else the best quality is the looks looks are great.

I had mine for about a year until i dropped it on my bed and the neck snapped.

I reallt couldnt do much about it because i bought it off my friend who didnt have the warrenty and he had it for 2 months

ive been playin for 2 yrs and ive never played a guitar like this personally i wouldnt buy it if i had known.

I got mine new, in 1980. It is made in Japan. It is an excellent copy of a les Paul Custom, black with gold hardware. It has been my main guitar all these years, with 2 fret hones to prove it. Next time, it will need refretted. The guitar has speed, and the neck profile is thin, not exactly the same as a Les Paul Classic neck (I have that one also)

I play country lead. The best sound for me is through a Peavey bandit 112 to get Ray Flacke sounds, and Albert Lee sounds. The guitar can simulate a Fender Tele on the lead pickup. The reason, is the pickups are weak on the Crestline (check the pickups with an ohmmeter and compare to a Gibson, you'll see what I mean). The sound is really great for the music I am playing. Still, it's a cheap Japanese copy.

Action is excellent, but after a fret hone and setup. Plus, some string lowering at the nut. All but the back of the guitar has an excellent finish. The back wasn't made smooth, a shortcut for the manufacturer. I went through a lot of 3 position switches, but the last one I got has lasted probably 15 years. Came with Grover tuners. I bought a Gibson hardshell case for it, since the guitar now has sentimental value. The neck is rosewood, has nice inlay for the name "Crestline" out of what appears to be pearl. Mine has plastic fake pearl for block position markers. The gold chrome finish has lasted very well over the years. I replaced the pots about 10 years ago.

I've played live for years with this guitar, and recorded in studios with it. Most people look at it, and after looking realize its a copy. You sure can't tell on the recordings! I put straploks on it. The guitar is lighter than a real Les Paul, again a Japanese copy. The guitar cost $175.00 new. The music store my parents bought it from had 2 black with gold hardware Crestlines, and 2 black with gold Les Paul Customs. I remember the Les Pauls costing $600.00! I wish I had a photo of all 4 guitars through the storefront window, what an awesome sight! These guitars are great, but good luck finding one that has been taken care of, since they were probably purchased as beginner guitars and most probably been bought/sold a number of times. Mine has held up great over the years, I never regret playing it all these years, because it really has awesome action and speed.

I have no literature on the guitar when it was purchased, as far as I know there wasn't any kind of warrantee. Mine needed wear and tear items, but otherwise a great cheap instrument. Some people have told me they bet Gibson made it themselves (the guitar is that well made- set neck, Grovers, 3 ply binding on the top and around the headstock). I left the "Made in Japan" gold sticker on the guitar, it is on the back of the headstock.

I been playing since 1978. I am "saving" the Crestline for important live gigs or recording sessions and playing daily my other guitars. The Crestline has sentimental value, I've played it for countless hours practicing and in bands. I have a Gibson Les Paul Classic, a Gibson Nighthawk (Black with gold trim-3 pickup special model), Alvarez flattop from 1986 with abalone trim, mahogany neck, Taylor Big Baby -a neat sounding guitar, Fender Twin Reverb from 1970's, Peavey Bandit 112 from the 1980's, Tascam Portastudio7, Tascam Pocketstudio5, Aleses midiverb rack, Boss digital delay, compressor pedals, Ovation mandolin, old fiddle for hillbilly songs.

les paul shape plain wood finish. i am not sure how old it is, but i'm
in love. It has a deep sound and a whine from another world when
bending the high end strings.neck width is perfect for me.Pickups
could be better. seem to be original.Very old.A little to heavy but
its worth it.

I play Alice in Chains style music and its great for that cantrell
sound.

No noticable flaws.

never fails. Original finish. A little flat but I think its at least
25 years old.

Can't find the company.

I love it.I going to trash my crate strat

I HAVE LOOKED ALL OVER THE GUIATAR AND ONLY DATE IS ON SWITCH 1976.
STYLE LES.P.CUSTOM 60'S SLIM TAPER NECK,22FRET SERIAL#CR460RS
ROSEWOOD FINGER BOARD,MAPLE NECK,MAHOGANY BODY,MAPLE TOP(POSS.BIRDS-EYE)MOTHER-OF-PEARL BLOCK INLAYS STARTING ON 1.CREAM BINDING ON
BODY,NECK AND HEADSTOCK.CHROME TUNE-O=MATIC BRIDGE,2 HUMBUCKING
PICKUPS.NONE LOCKING TUNNERS.CHERRY SUNBURST

MY SYLE IS WELL ROUNDED ALL TYPE.THE GUITAR HAS A HEAVY TONE GREAT
ON METAL YET ON OPEN END CHORDS I'D SAY = TO IBANEZ.I OWEN A RG320DX.
I USE CRATE RUN ZOOM PEDAL.DISLIKE WOULD BE DROP D TUNNING SOUNDS MESSED UP.LIKES SUBSTAINING ANOTE SCREAMING ABLITY IS COOL,BAR CHORDS
BLEND AND EASY TO HAMMER,BEND,PULL OFF.

WELL BUILT STILL PRETTY COLOR IS FRESH WET LOOKING WOOD PATTERNS NICE
HARDWARE NICE CHROME.

HAS NEVER LET ME DOWN.PERFORMS VARY WELL EVERY FRIDAY,PLUS PRATICE.
STRAP BUTTONS SOLID. WITH OUT BACKUP FORSURE.

I AM NOT SURE OF MANUFACTURE,ONE MUSIC STORE OWNER SAID IT WAS APOSSABLE MONTGOMERY WARD CATALOG ORDER ONLY.NEED INFO?

I OWN A JACKSON,IBANEZ,HARMONY,BENTLY,WASHBURN.IF MY CRESTLINE WAS STOLEN I WOULD HUNT FOREVER!!WISH I HAD LES PAUL CUSTOM GIBSON.

The Crestline LP copy I play was purchased in 1982 by my older brother. I do not know if it was new or used when he bought it. The pick-ups are wonderfully versatile humbucker style. The finish is a subtle sunburst from a light amber to a deep rose on both front a back, yet another feature separating it from other copies. It has Grover tuning keys and a neck that is hard to resist. I have the action set about as low as it will go without buzzing.

This is an ideal instrument for any style of playing. I play a good deal of jazz and blues. My amp is a Fender 75 tube amp. The warm tone produced by the amp and the beautiful resonance of a solid body guitar are two of my favorite contributors to my sound. I have established the range of settings on my amp and spend a lot of time toying around with the variety of tones that can be achieved with the volume controls on the guitar. When the volume settings are below 5, the tone is significantly thinner. From 6 and up the boldness is wonderfully textured with that fat LP tone.

One drawback is that the nut was glued in, so for it to be replaced it would have to be in the hands of a specialist, which I am not. Any guitar of this age(approx. 20 years) will have caused its nut to endure a good deal of punishment so I do not intend to degrade the quality of the instument.

This guitar would withstand anything to which a responsible player could expose it. The finish is eye-catching even after all these years.

I do not know how to go about contacting the company seeing as no one has ever heard the name before.

If any other Crestline owners should read this please contact me if you have information about the company. Thank you

21 frets, arches top like the real lps,2 tone, 2 volume, and a 3-way, h/h, active, dunno bout woods, set neck, LP style, tune-o-matic, stock tuners, nice fat neck, heavey as hell, baught second hand.

I play punk, rock, some metal, alternative, grunge...this guitar does it all. My amp is a ampeg v-3 tube head, a fender HM cab, I have a small clone and a ds-1 distortion. It isn't at all noisey. The DS-1 feeds back, but, thats not the guitar. very deep, smooth, rich, even sounding. Lots of variety from the pickups. can get really mellow, almost acoustic, with a mid drop. No dislikes.

the action is low. I got it second hand and no one else has every heard of it. good intonation. The pickups needed not a tweek. everything is fine. the moveable peices that the strings rest on are plastic, not metal. odd. But they work. Good binding. I have friends that are very picky, and they like it. My one friend wants it. heh. nothing really wrong. only compaint is fret buzz. on on 1-3 on certain strings. The g-string slips every so often, but that is common on all guitars (and trashy girls).

It HAS withstood live playing. I broke down before it did. Hardware will definately last. the finish is great. Strap buttons are much more solid than they feel. I can depend on it. I have used it gigging without a backup (though the other band offered their guitar just in case, didn't need it).

No one has ever heard of them.

I have been playing for 2 years. I ahve a epi 310 (nice guitar), a harmony strat (falling apart) and a epi LP junior (thinking about another instead of it...) If it were stollen, I would hunt him down, take his money, and invest in LP copies that are this good, since no one has ever heard of "Crestline". Great neck sound.